To the south of Paris, near Orly airport, is the international market of Rungis – the largest wholesale fresh food and flower market in the world. 40% of fresh produce consumed in France goes through Rungis, as well as 30% of fish and seafood, 20% of […]
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The festival of the kings, or Epiphany, is celebrated on January 6th. As well as celebrating the day the Magi visited the Christ Child, and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, Epiphany marks the end of the 12 days of Christmas; the 12 […]
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On New Year’s Day in France (le Jour de l’An), it is usual for friends and family gather together to make New Year’s resolutions. Sometimes gifts and cards are exchanged as well. Bonne année et bonne santé! On behalf of everyone here at France.com, we […]
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In France, December 31st is known as la Saint-Sylvestre, and is named after Saint Sylvestre, who was a 4th century AD pope during the time of Constantine the Great and the conversion of the Roman Empire to Christianity. The saint actually has little to do […]
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Since 1570, there has been a Christmas market in Strasbourg, and just as then, visitors nowadays can fill themselves full of Christmas cheer in the form of bretzels, mulled wine, candies, and pastries. These days, you can buy all the decorations for your Christmas tree as […]
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The tradition of decorating Christmas trees in France goes back to 16th century Alsace, when people would hang apples and nuts from the trees’ branches. However, in 1858, a drought caused the apple harvest to fail, so an enterprising glass blower from Goetzenbruck in Lorraine created […]
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As with many people across the world, the Christmas tree (le sapin de Noël) takes pride of place at Christmastide in French homes, schools, businesses, and factories. The first Christmas tree in France is said to have been put up in Alsace in the 1521 but it […]
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Did you know that when children write letters to Santa in France, it is the law that they each receive a postcard by way of a response? The law was passed in 1962.
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While France may come low on the list of vegetarian-friendly European countries, there is no need for vegetarians to despair; French cuisine does actually include a number of dishes which are actually suitable for vegetarians but because meat-free diets are not a big thing in l’Hexagone, […]
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In January 1897, several newspapers reported the story of Béatrice de Rothschild’s poodle, Diane, getting married La Petite Major – her father’s dog, also a poodle. An excerpt from the Washington DC Morning Times said: “There is a new fad among the rich – dog marriages. […]
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